Display device



JulyS, 1930.. w. F. BUCKINGHAM Filed Feb. 18', 1926 w. F. BUCKINGHAM July 8, 1930.

DISPLAY- DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 8, 1930.

W. F. BUCKINGHAM DISPLMv DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 18, 1925 July 8, .1930- w. F. BUCKINGHAM 1,720,227` v DI SPLAY DEVICE y Filed Feb. 18, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 yso Patented July 8, 1930 WILLIAM F. BUCKINGHAM, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS nisrLAY nnvrcn Application filed February 18J 19%. 'Serial No. 89,039.

may be readily displayed in a very small space and by means of which a considerable portion of it may be displayed. Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

My invention is illustrated more or diagrammatically -in the accompanying drawings, wherein: s

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away showing the device in position for use; f f y Figure 2 is a cross section taken onl line 2--2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view with parts brokenV away and parts in section;

Figurel 4 is a cross section taken on liney 4 4 of Figure 3 on an enlarged scale showing the top parts of the device;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view with parts on an enlarged scale, parts broken away showing in detail the mounting 0f the supporting members;

Figure 6 1s a view similar to Figure 5 shows` ing a modified form; e

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic View showing the folding or bending of the supporting members of the form of Figure 5 before they are inserted and held in place;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the form of supporting members as used in-Figure 6; t Figure 9 is a detail on an enlarged scale showing a part of the bottom of the display skirt;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a modified form of the supporting plates; Y

Figure 11 is a View similar to Figures 5 and 6 showing a further modification in which thel upper supporting 'members are formed continuously from a single piece;

Figure 12 is a vertical crosssection taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 1l showing the upper end of the form of the device shown in that figure;

less

Figure 13 is an inverted plan view of the lower plate of the supporting member.

Like parts are indicated by like charactersV throughout. A is a base formed preferably of an annular ring having a channeled upper surface. lt is providedwith a plurality of converging arms A1 which join to form a hub or socket A2 within which is positioned a central supporting rod A2. About the lower end of the rod A2 is a hoop A4 provided with a cross member A5 which is perforated adjacent its center and at that point surrounds the central shaft A3. It is supported from the upper part of the display device in the'inanner to be described later. A6 is a conical point mbunted in the upper end of the rod, tube or shaft A3. y i

B is a hub positioned about they upper end of the rod A3 provided'witha bearing plate B1 which rests upon the `point of the conical member AG. Formed preferably integral with the'hub B is a laterally extending discV` or plate B2. `Extending upwardly from the plate is the socket port-ion B3 adapted to re ceive a pin B4 from a card frame B5 within which a display Card BG may be positioned. The plate or disc B2 is provided on its'under e side with a downwardly depending annular fiange B7, and a row of short downwardly depending pins B8, and adjacent its periphery a row of larger downwardly depending pins B2. The pins in adjacent rows are pref* erably arranged radially. Adjacent 'the rows of pins there is provided as shown an annular depression B10. On the under surface of the disc B2 and joining the hub portion with 'the 4iiangeB7 is a plurality of reinforcing webs B11.

Beneath the plate or disc B2 is provided a second disc C. It is provided with the central perforation C1 preferably larger than the hub B and therefore out of Contact with it. Its inner portion is somewhat higher than its outer portion as at C2, and extending upwardly from this-outer portion is arraised bead C3. It is removably joined to the upper plate B2 by means of bolts C4. C5 arespacin'g llugs on the upper surface of the disc C adapted to Contact the inner surface of the flange.

B7 to center the two discs with relation to each other.

D is an annulus adapted to be attached removably to the bottom of the plate C by means of the screws D1. Between it and the plate C is engaged the upper edge E of the display skirt El which is preferably made of some flexible fabric, cloth, netting or any other suitable material. The lower edge of the skirt El is turned inwardly to form a pocket and within this pocket is positioned a reinforcing and strengthening member B2 made up of cord or some other suitable material.

F is the outer or main display member. It is preferably formed of iiat spring wire, and in the form shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive and F igurc 7 this wire is continuous, and thus a single wire is folded bach and forth upon itself and positioned about the display device throughout its circumference. This vvire is folded as shown in a plurality of folds, each fold having a long side and. a shorter side jz/. The folds are then positioned about 'the pins B8 and B9 between the two plates B2 and C.

As shown in Figure 7 the wire is folded having the long portion and the short portion y for each fold, and each fold having an outer end l and an inner end 2. The inner end 2 is positioned about one of the inner pins B8 and passes between two of the outer pins B2. It contacts, however, not the pins .B9 which is radial with respect to the pins B8 about which it is positioned, but it contacts the next pin and thus itV extends not radially but tangentially. Thus each of the ends 2 is positioned about one of the pins B8, the wire is folded over and bears against an offset pin B9 and by reason of this arrangement and by reason of the fact that the side ofeaoh of the folds is longer than the side y, the folds are when in position not symmetrical but take the form shown in the drawing.

To assist this feature and to strengthen the members and support them, a second wire F1 is used. This wire is folded just as the first wire F is folded, each of the folds being smaller. It also has a long portion and a short portion y, outer point 3 and an inner point 4. It is arranged so that it embraces the wire F at its inner end. Thus it tends additionally to throw it out of the symmetrical and radial position and to force it tangentially into the position and form shown in the drawing.

Figure 6 shows a slightly modified form. The pins there shown in the plate B2 are not arranged radially, as is the case in the earlier shown forms of the device. The disc B2 is provided withan inner row of pinsG and an outerrow of pins G1. In this form of the device the spring parts are not continuous, each of the outer loops being formed of a single member G2 provided with a long portion 0c and short portion y and at its inner end with a hooi: G2. In combination with this spring section G2 is an additional section G4 provided with a long portion, fc, a short portion y and a pair of hooks G5 at its inner end.

In mounting' the spring sections G2 and G4 about the pins and between the plates, one of each of such sections is collapsed together so that the two pairs of hook members G3 and G5 are rWithin each other and are positioned about the pin G. They extend generally tangentially outward and embrace one of the pins G1, preferably the one next, going in a circle in a counter' clockwise direction. In this manner the two spring sections co-operate to provide a strong and resilient structure, and the inner section reinforcing the outer section additionally accentuating the tangential bending. v

In the form shown in Figure l0 a hub H surrounds the rod A3. It is provided with a bearing part H1 and a socket portion II2 and a laterally extending plate or disc 2 provided with an upwardly flaring outer edge H4. It has beneath it and extending downwardly from it an annular flange H5 provided with reinforcing webs H6 and a row of pins I-I7, extending downwardly from the upwardly flaring portion H4, and a second row of pins H8, the two being separated by a groove or depression as shown in Fig. 10.

In oo-operation with this plate H3 is a secondplate I provided with a perforation Il greater in diameter than thehub portion H so as to be out of contact with it, and provided with spacing lugs AI2 which Contact the inner surface ofthe flange H and center the discs. It is also provided with an upwardly flaring portion I3 carrying in its upper surface a bead It. The two plates are fastened together in the manner described above in connection with the other forms of the device.

K is a card displaying member provided with an inner loop K1 adapted to be positioned about one of the pins B2 to extend out wardly and contact the pin B9, and it is provided with a socket portion K2. By means of this device a plurality of card holding members may be inserted within the display device, and thus several different cards may be used in connection therewith.

In the form of the device shown in Figures 1l, 12 and 13 the upper plate B2 is the same as that shown in Figures l, 2, 3 and 4 and the lower plate is generally the same as those shown in those figures. t is provided, however with additional downwardly depending outer edge C which carries at suitable intervals about its edge a plurality of outwardly extending lugs or points C7. An adjustable thumb nut C8 is mounted in a threaded perforated member C2. i'

In the form shown in Figures ll and' l2 Vthe outer spring member is essentially the inner end at one end passing about a pin B8A and outwardly about the second pinfrom it, counting in a clockwise direction. Each of the folds is provided with a long side and a short side y described in connection with the other forms. rIhus due to this shaping and winding of the wire, the separate folds are non-symmetrical and they slant olf in a generallytangential direction.

Although I have shown an operative device, still it will be obviousthat many changes might be made in size, shape and arrangement or parts without departing materially from the spirit of my invention; and I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

rIhe use and operation of my invention are as follows: e

The device is assembled in any one of the several forms, and in that form when it is to be used, articles to be displayed are draped upon the spring loops, being slipped between them and hanging downwardly from them. Thus they are held firmly against accidental displacement, a small distance each from the other, so that a large portion of each can be seen and so that a large number may be arranged in a very limited amount of space. rIhe device may be stationary or it may be rotated by hand or mechanically.

I claim:

l. In a display device, a goods supporting member comprising a plurality of Vfingers arranged generally in the form of a circle and mounted for relative movement'and normally in contact with each other, each of said fingers having two sides, a long and a short side, and being positionedwithin thecircle and inclined to a radius where the end of the finger touches the circle, said lingers being adapted to be separated one from another for the, inser- JEion of articles to be displayed.

2. In a display device, a goods supporting member comprising a plurality of fingers arranged frenerally in the form of a circle and mounted for relative movement and normally in contact with each other, each of said fingers having two sides, a long and a short side, and being positioned within the circle and inclined to a radius where the end of the linger touches the circle, said fingers being adapted to be separated one from another for the insertion of articles to bedisplayed, each finger having a reinforcing and shaping member within it.

3. In a display device, a goods supporting member comprising a plurality of lingers ar ranged generally in a circular form mounted for relative movement, formed of yielding material and normally in contact with each other, each of. said'lingers having two sides, along and a short side, and being positioned within thek circumference of ysaid circular formand inclined to the radii thereof, said fingers lbeing adapted to be vseparated one fromF another for the insertion of articles' to be displayed, each finger having a reinforcingand shaping member within itfof smaller size thanfa'nd corresponding to it inshape.

4. In a display device, a laterally extended.

supporting-memberformed of a plurality of spring folds, each fold Abeingin Contact with the onesadjacent to it, each fold being supported at one endzand provided with a short side and a long side whereby it is laterally bent and distorted, the supporting member being generally circular in configuration and the folds being inclined to the radii. of 'said supporting member. f

5. 'In a display device, a laterally extended supporting member formed of a plurality of spring folds, each fold being in contact with the ones adjacent to it, each fold being supported at one end and provided with a short side and along side whereby it is laterally bent and distorted, in combination with a second series of spring folds of .a similar shape andsmaller size, the supporting member being generally circular 1n configuration andthe folds being inclined to the radii of f y said supporting member. l l

Y6. In combination, plates, means for drawing-them together, the plates having on` their adjacent faces projections,one having a plun rality of pins, anda-supporting element held between said plates and extending therefrom, saidA element formed of a plurality of folds .of material,

beingprovided with a long side and a shortside whereby the same is bent and distorted laterally.

7.` In combination, plates, means for drawing them together, theplates having on their adjacent facesprojections, one having a e plurality of rowsof pins, and a supporting elementheld between said plates and extending therefrom, saidelernent being formed ofk ing them together, the plates having on their each of said folds at one end being engaged about such pins and po- Vsitioned so as to enclose another, each fold each fold being provided with a long adjacent faces projections, one khaving a plurality of rows of pins, and a supporting ele- Y ment held between said plates and extending therefrom,'said element being formed of a pluralitycf folds of spring material, eachof said folds lat one end being engaged about two of such pins and positioned so as to en- Y close; another, each foldbeing provided with a long side and a short side whereby the same is bent and distorted laterally, in combination with a second series of spring folds of the same general shape as the first series, of smaller size and engaged about Said pins.

9. In combination, plates, means for drawing them together, the plates having on their adjacent faces projections, one having a plurality of rows of pins, and a supporting element held between said plates and extending therefrom, said element being lformed of a plurality of folds of spring material, each of said folds at one end being engaged about two of such pins and positioned so as to .enclose another, each fold being provided with a long side and a short side `whereby the same is bent and distorted laterally, in combi-na tion with a second series of spring folds of the same general shape as the Afirst Series and smaller size than the same, .one fold of `such second series being disposed within each of said first series of folds and positioned about the same pins.

l0. A display device including in combi? nation a supporting member and a laterally disposed supporting member supported thereon, said laterally disposed member being formed of a pair of co-operating plates, and a laterally disposed member formed of a plurality of folds of material, said folds being at one end engaged about said projections and each having a short side and a long side whereby they are disposed laterally away, from a radial position, and means for drawing the two plates together to lock 'the laterally disposed member in position.

l1. A display device comprising a flat circular supporting base, a plurality of members projecting therefrom, a plurality of spring lingers carried by the base-and formed from a single continuous thin flat spring str-ip, the fingers being formed from successive loops, the inner ends of the loops engaging the projections on the base, the .outer ends of the loops projecting 'in a horizontal plane from the base in a direction inclined to the radius of said supporting base.

12. A .display device comprising a fiat circular supporting base, a plurality of members projecting therefrom, a. plurality of spring lingers carried Yby the base and formed from a single continuous thin fiat spring strip, the lingers being formed from succes'- sive loops, the inner ends of the loops engaging the projections on the base, the outer ends of the loops projecting in a horizontal plane from the base in a direction inclined to the radius of said supporting base, and means overlying the base and projections for holdving the iingers 1n -place on the base in interlocked relation ,with the projections.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 16th day of February, 1926.

VILLIAM F. BUCKINGHAM. 

